Police are appealing for information following an attempted burglary at the home of an elderly lady in Rishton earlier this week.

A man was seen running from the garden of a house on Blackburn Road and over neighbouring fences after being disturbed at around 1am on Monday, December 10.

A neighbouring house on Blackburn Road, belonging to a 95-year-old lady, was also targeted that morning.

Her back door had been forced open but the offender didn't manage to break in.

Sergeant Tim McDermott said the victim was left upset.

He added: "Even though this person did not gain entry into the house, the fact that they tried, has left this lady understandably upset - she deserves to be able to go to sleep in her own house and feel secure and so we are doing all we can to try and trace the person responsible.

"We have stepped up patrols in the area and I would urge anyone with any information that might assist in our investigation to come forward."

Police are looking for a man who was wearing a dark tracksuit and a woolly hat and are asking anyone who thinks they may have seen anyone acting suspiciously in the area to contact them.